Goblins

Goblins were a race of small and numerous goblinoids common throughout Cerilia, often living in underground caverns near the surface known as lairs. The race was often, though not always, dominated by other goblinoids, most commonly hobgoblins. Goblins may have, in fact, been initially created by this related race to serve as scouts and infiltrators.
Though goblins had a poor reputation overall, not all goblins were dim-witted or evil. Some goblins have risen to become heroes, gaining enough renown to be accepted into the civilized world of other, more commonly good, races. Those goblins seeking this path may have found it difficult to overcome their temper and greed, as well as the cultural influence of their brethren, but those who did often found it could be more rewarding, in the long run at least, to serve good rather than to serve evil. Many goblins who left for a life among other races were females, driven away by the rigidly structured role they were expected to play. Other expatriated goblins would try to recreate the circumstances of their culture, preying on the weaknesses of others in non-goblin communities.
Being bullied by bigger, stronger creatures has taught goblins to exploit what few advantages they have: sheer numbers and malicious ingenuity. The concept of a fair fight was meaningless in their society. They favoured ambushes, overwhelming odds, dirty tricks, and any other edge they could devise. Goblins preferred to fight battles where the odds were in their favour and often fled or surrendered when outmatched.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

Goblins bred extremely rapidly compared with many other races, accounting for their large population.

Ecology and Habitats

Goblins often inhabited temperate plains, though many were also known to live in caverns or underground.
Goblin settlements were typically very densely populated and filled with young goblin children. This was in part because goblin females were expected to birth as many children as possible to sustain a population constantly driven down by violence. However, young goblins did not outnumber adults as their lives often were at least as dangerous as those of the adults. The innermost chambers of goblin lairs were usually the most densely-populated and well-defended.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Goblins, like other goblinoids, had a commonly short temper.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Goblin society was tribal by nature. Goblin leaders were generally the strongest, and sometimes the smartest, around. They also tended to have some of their tribe's best weapons.
Leaders among the race often came to power through betrayal or aggression, rather than by more peaceful means, or as clerics of the goblin gods. As such members of the race were more easily provoked than individuals of most other races and often took sadistic pleasure in exacting revenge once crossed. 
Goblins who turned away from evil often found it difficult to overcome this short fuse and had a sense of greed that made it difficult for them to act altruistically. Those that did often made use of their ill-gained talents as rogues or fighters.
Goblins had little concept of privacy, living and sleeping in large common areas; only the leaders lived separately in their own private chambers. As such, goblin lairs were often stinking or soiled, though easily defended when under assault. Many such lairs were layered with simple traps for such purposes.

Facial characteristics

They had flat faces, broad noses, pointed ears, and small, sharp fangs. Their foreheads sloped back, and their eyes varied in color from red to yellow.

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

Goblins primarily worship Kartathok and commonly have the Azari bloodline in their leaders. Some who worship the human gods will worship Belinik or Kriesha.

Gender Ideals

Male goblins, who were dominant in goblin society, sustained the community by raiding and stealing, sneaking into lairs, villages, and even towns by night to take what they could. If supplies got short enough, goblins would even resort to eating members of other races, including other goblinoids.

Average Technological Level

Goblins tend to have a technological level a little behind that of the closest human tribe, from whom most knowledge will have been stolen - goblins are not known for idle thought or for speculation and rarely develop technologies themselves. Goblins are however swift to see the benefits of new methods, and adopt them far more readily than many of the human tribes; the goblins may not be particularly creative, but they are more than pragmatic enough to change their habits and culture as required to make themselves stronger or wealthier.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Goblin and some of the human languages depending on where they are on the continent.

Common Dress Code

Goblins were typically dressed in dark leathers soiled by poor hygiene and colored in a similar range of tones to their skin.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Young goblins were taught from an early age to rely only on themselves and that to survive, they needed to be aggressive and ruthless. To a goblin, it didn't seem logical to treat others as well or better than you would treat yourselves; rather, they believed in pre-emptively removing potential rivals before they could become a threat. Because of the violent nature of goblin culture, it was not uncommon for goblins to come under the domination of individuals from a larger, more physically powerful culture, most typically larger goblinoids such as hobgoblins or bugbears.
Goblins sometimes captured slaves to perform hard labour in the tribe's lair or camp.

History

The goblins are ancestral enemies of the elves and dwarves, their lands were taken from them by force by the human tribes fleeing Aduria and by the Basarji settlers in Cerilia and so most ancient texts also describe goblins as enemies of the various human tribes.

Genetic Descendants

• Ironroom Goblins

Average Height

3'4" - 3'8"

Average Weight

40 - 55 lb

Average Physique

Goblins were small goblinoids that many considered little more than a nuisance.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Their skin colour ranged from yellow through any shade of orange to a deep red; usually, all members of the same tribe shared the same coloured skin, though they also came in shades of green. There are sometimes Blue goblins but they are considered less then their peers, mistakes of nature and often do not make it to adulthood.